Fuel vaporizing and economizing apparatus



C. V. STEVENSON.

FUEL vAPoRIzlNG AND EcoNoMIzlNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28,1921.

1,42 1,606. Patented July 4, 1922.

IIAWIIMII UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CECIL VINCENT STEVENSON, OF SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNORF FIVE-EIGHTHS TO THOMAS, ERNEST ROFE, OF SYDNEY, NEW

l SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, AND THREE-EIGHTHS TO SIDNEY LE FEVRE VARVEL,0F WAHROONGA, NEAR SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUS# TRALIA.

FUEL VAPORIZING AND ECONOMIZING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1922.

Application filed February 28, 1921. Serial No. 448,542.

To all w /z-om. it may concern Be it known that I, CECTL VINCENT STE-vENsoN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Sydney, inthe State of New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Fuel Vaporizing and EconomizingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved fuel vaporizing and economizi'ngapparatus which may be fitted to a Carburettor below the throttle or tothe induction manifold of an internal combustion engine between thethrottle and the inlet valve.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved vaporizingapparatus of simple construction which will effect a thorough-amalgamation of the hydrocarbon and air particles, whereby considerableeconomy in fuel consumption is obtained.

The improved apparatus is characterized by the provision of anelectrical heating element, and a gauze screen co-acting with theheating element and functioning to radiate heat from the heatingelement, to gasify the fuel particles and to prevent pre-ignition of thecombustible fuel mixture.

According to one embodiment of the 1nve'ntion the apparatus is alsoprovided with means for admitting additional air to the mixing chamberof the carburettor or to the induction manifold, according to thelocation of apparatus, While i-n another .embodiment there. are providedmeans, furnished with an approved control, for admitting to the engineadditional air to afford a braking resistance and Water vapor or steamto imfprove the combustion of the fuel mixture thereby minimizing carbondeposits within the engine cylinders.

. With these and other objects in view the invention consists of tbefeatures of coustruction, combination and arrangement hereinafter fullydescribed, reference. being had to the accompanying drawings whereinFigure 1 is a view in sectional elevation illustrating the applicationof the apparatus to the induction manifold with means for admittingadditional air.

Figure 2 is a part sectional plan of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view in sectional elevation illustrating the applicationof the apparatus to the induction manifold with means for admittlng airand water vapour or steam.

Figure 4 is an end sectional elevation of Figure 3 taken on line A-A.

Figure 5 is a view in sectional elevation of a modified constructionhaving a supportlng ring for application to the induction manifold wherejunctioned to the piping leading from the carburettor. l Figure 6 is aview in plan of the supporting ring shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of a modicat'ion of the apparatusshown by Figure 5. Figure 8 is a sectional elevation illustratlng amodification of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Reference being had to the construction of apparatus illustrated byFigures 1 and 2, the intake pipe or induction manifold 10 of an internacombustion engine has a holel tapped therein to receive the externallythreaded neck 11 ofl a cylindrical chamber 12 which latter has an airinlet ort 13.v

A metal tube 14 constructed with perforations as 15 has its-inner endthreaded and screwed into the neck 11. Said perforated tube is arrangedtransversely of the manifold 10 and has a closed outer end 16 in whichis revolvably mounted a turn pin or screwed stud 17. An electricalresistance Wire 18 suitably coiled, is affixed at one end to said pin 17and has its opposite end fastened to the end of a metallic rod 19. Thisrod is screw-threaded at 20 and passes through a bush 21 of insulatingmaterial fitted into a boss 22 formed on the outer wall of said chamber12. Washers 23 of insulating material are arranged on opposite sides ofsaid boss 22 and are maintained in position against said bush 21 by nuts24 on the threaded portion of' the rod 19.

An electric supply wire leading from a and is held in position by abinding terminal nut 26.

A cylindrical lining 27 of fine mesh metal gauze is disposed within theperforated metal tube 14, but alternatively. this gauze may be arrangedaround the outer surface of the tube, or the latter may be provided withboth an inner lining and an outer covering of gauze.

A flat circular-shaped screen 28 of fine mesh metal gauze is fitted tothe under surface of the perforated tube 14 by means such as screws 29.This screen has a diameter corresponding to the bore of the intake pipeormanifold 1() and it is so arranged in relation to the tube 14 thatwhen the apparatus is fitted to the manifold said screen forms apartition extending completely across the intake pipe or manifold 10.

According to the construction illustrated by Figures 1` and 2, the fiatcircular gauze screen 28 is employed in addition to a cylindrical gauzelining 27 encircling the electrical heating element 18 in the perforatedtube 14, but in the construction illustrated by Figure 8 the screen 28affixed to the under surface of the perforated metal tube is used insubstitution for the cylindrical gauze lining 27 disposed within saidtube.

Upon operating a switch (not shown) controlling the supply of current,the coil of resistance wire 18 instantly becomes heated and the heatgiven off quickly heats the gauze lining 27, the tube 14 and gauzescreen 28. Heat being radiated from said gauze lining and said screen,the fuel mixture in its assage through the intake pipe ormanifol 10 isheated and atomized simultaneously, resulting in a thorough amalgamationand the production of a homogeneous mixture of hydrocarbon and airparticles. The cylindrical gauze lining 2T and/or the gauze disc 28furthermore function to protect the fuel charge against direct Contactwith the glowing hot resistance wire, thereby effectively safeguardingthe fuel charge a ainst rte-ignition 1n its assafe to the en- P n :a

gine cylinders.

Additional air is induced into the chamber 12 through the port 13 by thesuction of the engine and the passage of the fuel charge along theintake pipe or manifold 10. rlhis additional air, so admitted, is drawnfrom said chamber through the tube 14 and in its passage it is beingconstantly heated. Finally escaping through the gauze lining 27 and theperforations 15 of the metal tube 14, the additional air in its heatedcondition is readily absorbed by the previously atomized fuel mixture.

1n the form of the apparatus illustrated by Figures 3' and 4, thechamber 12 is enlarged and secured by means of screwed studs to a plate30 of disc-like form having an apertured boss 31 externally threaded toscrew into the manifold 10 and internally threaded to receive the end ofthe perforated metal tube 14.

In addition to the air inletport 13, the chamber 12 according to thisconstruction is provided with a port 32 for the admission of Watervapour or steam communicating by means of a pipe 83 with a suitablesteam or water supply, as the "radiator of a motorvehicle.

A rotary valve 34 is revolvably mounted in the chamber 12 having asleeve 35 loosely fitted on a bush 36 of insulating material mounted onthe threaded portion 20 of the metal rod 19. Vashers 37 of insulatingmaterial abut against the opposite ends of the bush 36 and are retainedin position by means of nuts 38.

A port 39 is formed in the valve 34 and designed to register with theports 13 and 32 formed in said chamber.

The valve 34 may be connected to the dashboard or other part of themotor-vehicle convenient of access to the driver through a lever 40attached to said sleeve 35 and furnished with a Bowden wire attachmentor like actuating means.

When the valve 34 is operated so that the port 39 therein is in registerwith the port 13 of the chamber 12 additional air is ad-Y mitted for thepurpose of diluting the fuel mixture or to be used for braking purposes.and when Vsaid valve is rotated so that its port registers with ,theport 32 of said chamber the air admission port 18 is closed while watervapor or steam may be admitted to the fuel mixture for thepurpose ofimproving combustion and minimizing carbon deposits in the cylinders ofthe engine. It is common practice to connect the manifold 1() to thepipe leading from the Carburettor by means of junctioning flanges andbolts.

According to the modification illustrated by Figures 5 and 6 a metalsupportinglring 40 is interposed and secured between these junctioningfianges. Flat circular sheets 41 and 42 of fine mesh metal gauze aresecured to the upper and to the lower surfaces of saidring 40.

A tube 43 of fine mesh metal gauze is mounted on the upper sheet 41 soas to be disposed vertically and approximately centrally in the intakepipe or manifold 10. A disc 44 of fine mesh metal gauze is mounted uponand supported by the gauze tube 43. Centrally mounted in said gauze tubeis a coil of electric resistance wire 18 having its upper end secured toa metal turn pin'17 and its lower end fastened tothe metal rod` 18 whichextends through said ring 40 and is secured in position by means of abush 21,

.washers 23 and nuts 24 in a manner similar to that hereinbeforedescribed with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

There may be a series of superimposed gauze screens 44a positionedbetween the gauze sheets 41 and 44, as indicated by broken lines inFigure 5, and adapted to thoroughly atomize the hydrocarbon and airparticles and effect a homogeneous combustible mixture in..'the passageof the fuel charge through the manifold to the engine.

Figure 7 of the drawings illustrates a modification of the apparatusshown in Figures 5 and 6, and embodies a supporting ring 40, horizontalgauze screens 41, 42 and 44 and a vertically disposed gauze tube 43.

Concentrically supported in the gauze tube 43 is a plain tube 45 formedof-thin metal around the .periphery of whichis wound the electricresistance wire 18. This wire is connected to the metal rod 19 which sfitted to and supported by the ring 40 in the manner hereinbeforedescribed.

The windings of resistance wire are protected by the encircled gauzetube 43,' and the thin metal tube 45 may be furnished with an internallining 46 or packing of fine mesh metal gauze. This constructlonprovides increased heating surfaces adapted to effect a readyvolatilization of heavy hydrocarbon liquids to procure a uniformlycorrect explosive mixture giving required engine efliciency.

What I do claim is 1. A vaporizing and fuel economizing apparatus forinternal combustion engines comprising, an electrical resistance heatingcoil disposed in the path of the fuel charge, a gauze vscreen co-actingwith said coil to radiate heat and further functioning to atomize thefuel and protect the vaporized fuel against contact with said coil, andmeans for admitting additional air and directing same over said coil tothe fuel charge.

2. A vaporizing and fuel economizing apparatus for internal combustionengines comprising, an electrical resistance heating coil disposed inthe path of the fuel charge, a gauze screen co-acting with said coil toradiate heat and further functioning to atomize the fuel and protect thevaporized fuel against contact with said coil, and means for admittingadditional air and/or water vapour or steam to the fuel charge.

3. A vaporizing and fuel economizing apparatusfor internal combustionengines comprising, an electrical resistance heating coil disposed inthe path of the fuel 'charge` a cylindrical gauze screen encircling saidcoil, and a flat gauze screen disposed beneath said cylindrical screen.

4. A vaporizing and fuel economizing apparat-us for internal combustionengines comprising, a perforated metal tube disapparatus for internalcombustion engines comprising, a perforated metal tube disposed in thepath of the fuel charge, an electrical resistance heating coil mountedin said tube, means for supplying electrical energy to said coil, acylindrical covering of gauze mounted in or on said tube, and a fiatgauze scrk'jeen fitted to the under surface of said tu e.

6. A vaporizing and fuel economizing apparatus for internal combustionengines comprising, a chamber, an air inlet port in said chamber, aperforated metal tube fitted to said chamber and disposed in the path ofthe fuel charge, a metal rod carried by and insulated from lsaidchamber, an electrical resistance heating coil disposed within saidtube, means fastening said coil at one end to the outer end of said tubeand at its other end to said rod, a cylindrical gauze lining supportedby said tube, and an electrical current supply wire connected to saidrod.

7. A vaporizing and fuel economizing Vapparatus for internal combustionengines comprising, a chamber, an air inlet ort in said chamber. a bossin said cham r, an insulating bush in said boss, a threaded metal rodpassing through said bush, insulating washers abutting against saidbush, nuts on said rod maintaining said washers in position, aperforated tube secured to said chamber and disposed in the path of thefuel charge, a turn pin revolvably mounted at the outer end of saidtube, an electrical resistance heating coil connected at its oppositeends to said pin and to said rod, a cylindrical gauze screen in saidtube encircling said coil. a flat gauze screen affixed to the undersurface of said tube, an electrical supply wire connected to said rod,and a terminal binding nut on said rod.

8. A vaporizing and fuel economizing apparatus for internal combustionengines comprising, a chamber, an air inlet port in said chamber, asecond port in said chamber, a pipe fitted to the second port andcommunicating with a source of supply of water vapour or steam, arotatable valve in said chamber, a port in said valve, means forrotating said valve so that the port therein registers with either ofthe ports in said chamber, a perforated metal tube communicating withsaid chamber and disposed in the path of the fuel charge, an electricalresistance heating coil mounted in said tube, means for supplyingelectrical energy to said coil, and a cylindrical gauze screen disposedin said tube and encircling said coil.

9. A Vaporizing and fuel economizing apparatus for internal combustionengines comprising, a supporting ring, gauze screens fitted to said ringand disposed in the path of the fuel charge, a vertically disposed gauzetube on the upper of said screens, a gauze partition superimposed onsaid tube, a metal rod supported by and insulated from said ring, anelectrical resistance heating coil connected at its lower end to saidmetal rod and at its upper end t9 said partition, and an electricalsupply wire connected to said rod.

10. A vaporizing and fuel economizing apparatus for internal combustionengines comprising, a supporting ring, horizontal gauze screens fittedto said ring and disposed in the path of the fuel charge, a Verticallydisposed gauze tube on the upper oi said screens, a gauze partition atthe upper end of said tube, a series of superimposed gauze partitioningscreens fitted to said tube, a metal rod supported by and insulated fromsaid ring, an electrical resistance heating coil vertically disposed insaid tube` means connecting the opposite ends of said coil 'to theuppermost of said partitioning screens and to said metal rod, anelectrical supply wire connected to said rod, and a binding 'terminalnut on said rod.

ll. A vaporizing and fuel economizing apparatus for internal combustionengines comprising, a supporting ring, horizontal gauze screens ritt-edte said ring and disposed in the path of the fuel charge, a metal rodsupported by and insulated from said ring, a metal tube verticallydisposed and supported by said screens, a gauze partition supported atthe upper end of said tube, an electrical resistance coil Wound aroundsaid metal tube, means connecting the op- .positc ends of said coil tothe uppermost of said screens and to said metal rod, a gauze tubeencircling the windings of said coil, and an electrical supply Wireconnected to said rod.

12A Vaporizing and fuel economizing apparatus for internal combustionengines comprising, a supporting ring, horizontal gauze screens fittedto said ring and disposed in the path of the fuel charge, a metal rodsupported by and insulated from said ring, a metal tube verticallydisposed and supported by said screens, a gauze partition supported atthe upper end of said Vertical tube, an electrical resistance coil Woundaround said tube, means connecting the opposite ends of said coil to theuppermost of said screens and to said metal rod, a gauze tube encirclingthe windings of said coil, gauze lining or packing in said metal tube,an electrical supply Wire connected to said rod, and a terminal bindingnut on said rod.

ln testimony whereof I al'lix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GECHJ VlNCENT STEVENSON.

Witnesses lt. L. Bourgois, A. ql. Camarena?.

